Nobody is Better Than Anybody Else

Today's Inquisitr reports on how Pope Francis allowed a disabled teenager to ride with him in the Popemobile, once again showing the pope's genuine caring for people who are disadvantaged in some way. The 17-year old boy, Alberto di Tullio, was thrilled to say the least. So must the public be thrilled. I would expect no less.

Visit: Pope Francis Lets Teen With Down Syndrome Ride In Popemobile [Video]

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Let me me frank here in an aside before I continue with this story:

When I blog about spiritual matters, I like to highlight positive things. There is so much negativity with respect to religion that many of us—myself included—tend to get disgusted with it and turn away. The latest developments in the Church have made me very angry and disappointed. Well, I did expect that, knowing about Pope Francis' theology. It's not like I was fooled or anything. This is one honest Pope.

It's hard to start disrespecting a man who is so obviously devoted, caring, and sincere. But, unfortunately, when developments in the church foster the same old prejudices, it makes me just want to take a break, and not say anything at all, even though I am furious within myself.

Here's what got me upset: The Boy Scouts finally entered into the twenty-first century (and caught up with the Girl Scouts) to include gay boy scouts. So, the Church goes and disavows the Boy Scouts. Three things hit me: (1) That old prejudice is still highly extant. (2) Pope Francis is not going to change it. (3) Why does the Church believe that having lesbians in the Girl Scouts is O.K? I think it's O.K., but I have never heard of the Church disavowing lesbians in the Girl Scouts.

Right away, from early childhood, gay people are set apart. They are caught between believing in G-d and following what nature is telling them to do. If they want to participate in activities shared by their communities and friends, they have to struggle with the impossible task of rejecting their own sexual orientation. It CAN'T be done. Notably, this week Exodus (a so-called "gay reparative Christian" organization) has made an exodus and obliterated itself, because even its leaders could not "pray away the gay" in themselves. They finally came out and admitted this. Hooray! Let's pray away the antigay!

So, I just stayed away from the blog....I didn't want to disrepect the Pope, because I really like him in so many ways. But, I realize I cannot keep silent. That's not going to work. So, here's the game plan: I'm going to get off this progay rant today and come back to it in detail in a later post. Today, I will concentrate on the teen with Down's Syndrome.

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Pope Francis extending himself in that deeply personal way toward Alberto is just another action in a long-series of actions designed to make people aware that he values people who are struggling with issues such as poverty or disabilities. Once again, he shows that he does not place himself above other people. He's not "too good" or "too elite" to associate with people who have difficulties with their socioeconomic status or how their bodies function (oh, but, if only that included homosexuals!—sorry this issue is really sticking in my head).

The time for a disability revolution is not yet at hand but I'm hoping that it will follow on the gay one that is currently taking place. While we disabled people are not barred from marriage or participation in whatever we are able to participate in, there are so many barriers that still separate us from what we could do if the barriers were down.

For example, attending church would be so much better if churches were made handicap-accessible. It would be absolutely wonderful to be able to actually tell WHAT priests are doing and saying if churches would only have assisted listening devices. I think it is reasonable to hope that the clergy will look at the Pope's actions and institute actions of their own to be more inclusive to potential parishioners who have disabilities. Pope Francis is leading by example. It is up to all of us to follow his lead. Let us think about what the disabled people we know may need and let us do our best to supply it without reservations or excuses. If the Pope can do it, so can we.  

In addition, let us never, ever put ourselves above another person because he or she lacks money, has a disability, or is—in any way, shape, or form—different from ourselves. This is critical! We are all part of G-d. We each have a Divine Purpose. Let us never fail to respect that. It is wise to always extend agape (universal love) to each and every innocent soul we encounter. We can argue about what is "bad" or "sinful—and indeed we shall—but let us direct any hatred we may feel against hatred itself. Despite some of his prejudices, I think, Pope Francis would agree with me about this.